Jour de fête (AKA “The Big Day”)
Directed by Jacques Tati
Written by Jacques Tati, Henri Marquet, and Rene Wheeler
1949/France
Cady Films/Panoramic Films
First viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] [at the 1959 Academy Awards] I find that the people who speak the worst English want to talk more than the others. — Jacques Tati[/box]
This was Tati’s first feature film and pre-dates the creation of Monsieur Hulot. It’s talkier than later films and drags a little but has some great sight gags.
Postman François (Tati) makes his rounds by bicycle in a small French village and the surrounding countryside. This particular day is a holiday and a little carnival has come to town. We start off with a commentary by an old lady on the foibles of various villagers and scenes of people setting up the merry-go-round etc. before François appears. François is a bit of a bumbler but tolerated by his fellow villagers. He tries to help with set up to predictably dire results.
About two-thirds of the way through, François and some of his buddies go to see a newsreel about how mail is delivered in America. This includes break-neck scenes of letters delivered via helicopter, etc. François’ pals rib him mercilessly and finally the postman takes up the challenge and starts furiously delivering the mail in a most alarming way.
You don’t go to see Tati’s films for the plot or dialogue but for the sight gags. There are some good ones, particularly when Tati starts demonstrating “modern” techniques of delivering letters by bicycle. He’s a long way from his peak here but I enjoyed the film. The music is very nice as well.
Restoration trailer
